PET/CT Scan

A PET/CT scan is a non-invasive procedure that provides unique information about the body’s metabolism, cell function, and the exact location of disease, specifically cancer, cardiac and neurological diseases. PET/CT scan is one of the most advanced and powerful imaging techniques available to diagnose diseases. Having a PET/CT scan streamlines testing and decreases the need for invasive biopsies, reducing the time, pain, and expense of multiple procedures for the patient

How PET works
A patient receives a compound injection, like glucose, labeled with signal-emitting tracers. A scanner records the signals these tracers emit as they journey though the human body and collect in the various organs targeted for examination. As the tracers move through the body, a computer assembles the signals into actual images for viewing by your physician. All body cells use glucose, however, cancer cells are highly metabolic and use more glucose than neighboring cells. The strength of the signals makes cancer cells easy to spot on a PET scan.